From the ArcaMax Publishing, The Culinary World, with Chef James Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/chefjames/s-331975-171951
The flavors of this favorite winter pizza are classic—the tomato
sauce is infused with fennel seed, and the fresh fennel adds crisp
texture and light flavor. The assertive provolone cheese is a pungent
surprise.
Makes One 15-Inch Or Two 9-Inch Pizzas
* 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
* 1/4 medium-size yellow
onion, diced, about 1/2 cup
* Salt and pepper
* 1 teaspoon
ground fennel seed
* 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
* 3/4
pound fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and pureed, about 1 1/4 cups, or
1 16-ounce can tomatoes with juice, pureed
* 1 medium-size
fennel bulb, quartered lengthwise, cored, and thinly sliced
*
Pizza Dough, ready to roll out
* Garlic Oil
* 2 ounces
mozzarella cheese, grated, about 3/3 cup
* 2 ounces provolone
cheese, grated, about 3/4 cup
* 1/2 ounce Parmesan cheese,
grated, about 3 tablespoons
Heat 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium
heat and add the onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt, a pinch of pepper, and 1/2
teaspoon of the ground fennel. Saute until the onion begins to release
its juices, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for about 2
minutes. Add the tomatoes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and another pinch of
pepper. Simmer gently, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, then season
with salt and pepper to taste.
Heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a saute pan and saute
the sliced fennel over medium heat with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon
ground fennel and a few pinches of salt and pepper until just tender,
4 to 5 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 500°F. Roll out the dough and place it on a
lightly oiled pizza pan or well-floured wooden peel; brush with the
Garlic Oil. Spread the sauce over the dough and lay the fennel on top.
Toss the mozzarella and provolone cheeses together and sprinkle on the
pizza.
Bake the pizza, in the pan or on a preheated pizza stone, for 8 to 12
minutes, until the crust is golden and crisp. Remove it from the oven
and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.
Variation: Sprinkle coarsely chopped pitted black olives over the
pizza before adding the cheese.
Courtesy of FoodReference.com.